Question

drag each item to indicate whether it is "Effective" or "Ineffective" in removing chemical contaminants such as lead from a local water supply with increased lead levels due to corroded pipes. The items are:

reverse osmosis
distillation
ultraviolet radiation
microfiltration

Answer 1

Here’s the classification of each item regarding its effectiveness in removing chemical contaminants such as lead from a local water supply:

1. **Reverse Osmosis**: **Effective**
- Reverse osmosis is very effective at removing a wide range of contaminants, including lead, from water by using a semipermeable membrane.

2. **Distillation**: **Effective**
- Distillation can effectively remove lead by boiling water and then condensing the steam, which leaves contaminants behind.

3. **Ultraviolet Radiation**: **Ineffective**
- Ultraviolet radiation is effective for disinfection (killing bacteria and viruses) but does not remove chemical contaminants like lead.

4. **Microfiltration**: **Ineffective**
- Microfiltration primarily removes bacteria, sediment, and larger particles but is not effective at removing dissolved substances such as lead.

So, to summarize:
- Reverse osmosis: Effective
- Distillation: Effective
- Ultraviolet radiation: Ineffective
- Microfiltration: Ineffective